Tennessee soccer beats LSU in overtime, 3-2

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (release) -- Sophomore Hannah Wilkinson scored the game-winner in the 96th minute after seniors Kylie Bono and Amy Harrison found the back of the net in regulation and the Tennessee soccer team battled hard for a 3-2 overtime win over LSU on Sunday at Regal Soccer Stadium.

"The resiliency of this team to come back from 1-0 was great. Then to give up the tying goal was so disappointing and, honestly, uncharacteristic of our group," UT head coach Brian Pensky said.

"Then to find a way to get a third goal was big-time. It shows a lot about our resilience and the fight and sticking with it and then it also says a lot about technique. Caroline Brown's turn there, her running with it, the weight of her pass and Hannah Wilkinson's finish was big-time. Actually, all three of our goals today were probably three of our top eight goals this fall."

In the sixth minute of overtime, junior Caroline Brown found Wilkinson in the box with a light tap. Wilkinson sped forward and ripped a shot from about six yards out, sending the ball to the left center for her second game-winner of the year.

After a scoreless stalemate in the first half, Tennessee (11-4-2, 6-3-1 SEC) and LSU (6-7-4, 2-6-2 SEC) unleashed the offense in the second period.

LSU took a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute when Fernanda Pina knocked in a corner kick from Jade Kovacevic from the left side.

UT did not wait very long to respond. One second into the 68th minute, Brittney Wade tapped the ball lightly to her right at the top of the box to set up Bono flying up the middle for a beautiful equalizer to the upper left of the goal.

The Lady Vols' lead grew to 2-1 in the 82nd minute when Brown initiated another UT attack. Brown passed the ball to Tori Bailey in the box and the sophomore midfielder took it diagonally to the left side before sending a cross in for Harrison. Harrison headed the ball in from about from a few yards out for her fifth score of the season. LSU answered just three minutes later. At 84:01, Alex Arlitt ripped a shot from the top center of the box to the top left corner past a diving Julie Eckel to even the game at 2-2.

Three yellow cards were issued late in the game. Kovacevic received one in the 86th minute, UT's Caroline Capocaccia received one in the 93rd minute and Arlitt got one in the 94th minute.

Tennessee had a 19-11 advantage on shots and a 7-5 edge on corner kicks. Eleven of UT's shots came after halftime.

Bono and Harrison applied the most offensive pressure for UT. Bono fired team highs of six shots and five shots on goal. Harrison had five shots with three on goal. Wilkinson had three shots, two of which were saved.

Eckel improved to 11-4-2, making three saves in the win. Brown had two assists for the Lady Vols.

LSU's Alex Ramsey led the Tigers with four shots. LSU goalkeeper Megan Kinneman tallied a game-high 10 saves and fell to 6-7-4 on the year.

Tennessee is back on the road next week. UT heads to College Station, Texas, for an Oct. 19 game at Texas A&M before a trip to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss on Oct. 21. The UT-Ole Miss game will be televised on SportSouth.

The Lady Vols will celebrate Senior Day on Oct. 25 in their regular-season home finale at Regal Soccer Stadium.

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